Extra Tracks Worth The Price
Big Al Fan | 03/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been following Al's career since the late 70s (First heard his work on a submarine!).As you know from the cd description, this is compilation of his Columbia Records work from the late 70s to early 80s. The gem of this cd package in my opinion is the live version of 'The Wizard'. About 6 minutes into the song, Mingo Lewis (percussion) and Steve Gadd (drums) get into a percussion/drum solo. My question is this. Why wasn't this track released previously? What a great drum/percussion solo! Mingo Lewis and Steve Gadd are great! Steve Gadd was voted #3 in Modern Drummer's 25 best drummers of all time and this track really displays his talent.On a personal note, I've met Al Di Meola a couple of times. He's a very down-to-earh person, not some stuck-up musician. I wish more people knew about his music. I'm on a crusade of sorts to get more people interested in his music. He focused on the music and not being famous.Anyway, get this cd, especially if you are becoming interested in Al for the first time."
I Wish I Was A Prodigy......
Joel Israel | Cedar City, UT United States | 09/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"(Instrumental Proficiency and Musicianship 6 out of 5)
Well, I have been listening to this amazing 2-disc set over the last couple of days nonstop,and I must say that there are certain people in life who are simply unnaturally talented.....they seem so gifted in some very specific way; as if there is nothing in the world that they are more well suited for than one specific thing. Einstein was seemingly born to understand the world through mathematical models and theory, and Al di Meola was born to express and create through music. Al di Meola first became prominent in jazz circles via his association with jazz pioneer Chick Corea, who (along with others like Miles Davis and John McLaughlin) was creating a new "bohemian" style of jazz combining virtuoso-level playing and muscicianship with rock and psychedelic music. Retun To Forever, widely regarded as the biggest fusion band in history, featured his explosive, sophisticated playing to wide acclaim. At the time, he was 19 years old. Subsequent to his stint with the jazz supergroup, he released many incredible solo albums(with much collaboration and guest appearances from many other talented musicians); this period in his career is documented here. Words can simply not describe Al di Meola's guitar playing on these early albums....incredibly progressive, dense, layered with suble nuance and simply brilliant; his nearly superhuman technique and ability, combined with a unique and uncompromising vision and understanding of music, has influenced many players on both sides of the jazz and rock fence. This is music that cannot be passively listened to, but absorbed, engaged and experienced. The great thing about this particular 2-disc set is the fact that it really does serve as a good collection of his most famous, progressive compositions, while leaving out some of his more subdued, later experimental "slow-jazz" material (although I like that as well)-leaving only jaw-dropping, fiery craziness. Some of the songs, such as "Suite: Golden Dawn" and the amusingly and aptly-titled "Dinner Music of the Gods" are just so otherworldly and amazing they surely can't have been written and performed by a mere mortal. An absolute genius at work."
Beautiful, a must have
Eric in Montreal | Snowy Montreal | 12/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is a Santa out there, finally a definitive collection. Mind you there are a couple of songs that I would have added but I'm not complaining. If you don't own anything from Al DiMeola. Please buy it. If you want to hear not one but many different styles, buy it. A very important guitarist of our time and an accomplished writer. Suite: Golden Dawn remains a favorite because of Jaco.Please do yourself a favor and get it. A very important piece of musicianship."